Dyche frustrated by latest away defeat

Chris Boden

Clarets boss Sean Dyche admitted another 'nearly, but not quite' away performance at Liverpool is one too many.

Burnley largely negated the Reds' much-vaunted forward line, after taking an early lead through Ashley Barnes.

Sean Dyche

But a fortunate goal right on half-time from Georginio Wijnaldum, and a winner from distance from Emre Can, made it another pointless outing on the road.

Dyche said: "It was a good performance, a solid performance, but unfortunately it can sound like a broken record somewhat, I made it clear early season many times, I didn't think we deserved anything on the road, but latterly we have.

"I thought we deserved something today, resolute in our defending, good organisation and tactical plan - the players delivered it very well generally - a sublime first goal, two or three other very good chances, some good play during the game in general, mixed in with making it really tough for them.

"We ruffled their feathers, deliberately made it awkward for them and I thought that worked very well.

"We know other teams have done that and suffered.

"But it's a nearly again. We've had too many nearly's on the road, it's our job to make it happen.

"I think, with that type of performance, we will make it happen."

Liverpool scarcely created a chance of note until late on when Burnley were pushing for an equaliser, with Wijnaldum's strike a big turning point: "I think that's their first shot on target, it's a tough one to call, we'd defended very well when we had to, they got the ball forward a lot more than us, it was going from back to front a lot, into Origi, which we were pleased with.

"They changed to try and affect the game, and it's a lucky one really, it comes over the heads, Ben Mee gets a good block on it, and it drops beautifully for their player - it's a tough one to take.

"You know what the feeling was at half-time, I don't think the crowd were overwhelmed with the performance, or it didn't feel like that, and then they go in more settled.

"That was unfortunate.

"We responded well second half, I was pleased with that as well, and the second goal is poor really, from that distance, but generally it was another strong performance.

"That's the key thing for me, we're scoring away from home, creating chances, and we've got to make sure we turn that kind of feel into wins and points.

"We're not a million miles away, the margins are fine - I speak about that a lot."

Dyche restored Barnes to the side after suspension, with Tom Heaton back after illness, while Scott Arfield came in for record signing Robbie Brady, and he was pleased with the response after the defeat at Swansea: "I was pleased with the team in general, not necessarily just individuals, the team in general, though the two centre halves I will say were excellent again.

"Its head-scratching to think they come off there with a defeat, I thought they were absolutely outstanding.

"We had 11 efforts at goal, and they had 10, its unusual for a side to come here and do that.

"Possession doesn't win games, goals do, and unfortunately they were the right side of the goals.

"We have to in other away performances because we've certainly done that at home, it's about taking that away."